On behalf of the Carcoar Dam Sailing Club, we extend our deepest and warmest gratitude to Niall for his extraordinary generosity and the donation of a Laser sailboat, which will be available to any competing member participating in regattas. This is more than a gift — it is an investment in our sailors, our community, and the future of our club.

We also wish to give special thanks to Port Kembla Sailing Club and Coffs Harbour Yacht Club for their generosity over the winter months. Their support made it possible for CDSC members to travel long distances to help assemble our first training fleet. As a small inland club, we truly rely on acts of kindness like this, and your contributions will be felt for many years to come.

As we continue to grow, CDSC remains committed to expanding our training fleet with future quality boats and improving our facilities so we can offer the very best experience to all who visit us. These goals have become even more important as we proudly enter a new chapter as a Discover Sailing Centre, welcoming visitors of all ages to discover the joy of sailing at Carcoar Dam.

Being both off-grid and remote, we do not have the ability to generate income through gaming, bars, or large facilities like many coastal clubs. For many years, CDSC has relied heavily on the kindness and generosity of our local community to stay afloat. Now, as a newly recognised Discover Sailing Centre, we finally have a chance to remain visible, active, and relevant — but we still need help. Support toward upgrading our fleet will directly shape the future of new sailors and keep our sport alive for generations to come.

We also wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to Australian Sailing for their unwavering support and guidance throughout our succession process. Your encouragement, expertise, and belief in our inland club have helped us find confidence and direction during this crucial time of renewal and growth.

Thank you all for lifting up our community and helping us keep the spirit of sailing alive at Carcoar Dam.

Over the past two years, CDSC has grown from 7 members to 86. The founding members worked exceptionally hard to establish the club back in 1973 at its current location. We have faced regional hardship over the past decade — the dam ran dry during drought, mouse plagues destroyed sails and sheets, and most recently a mini-tornado tore the clubhouse roof clean off. But the sailing community of the Central West is resilient. We continue to rebuild, adapt, and push forward against rural inland challenges.

We invite everyone from the coast to come and see what we have to offer. Our doors are open for your next inland adventure. If you are a dinghy or catamaran enthusiast and you’re up for a weekend away this summer, come sail in true inland wind challenging, bullet conditions — and enjoy packing up without needing to rinse off salt water at the end of the day.

And don’t forget our CDSC Regatta in March 2026, which is now open for early registrations.

Check out our 2025/26 season updates, events, and membership information at: www.sailcarcoar.com.au

Words by Rene Reimers, Commodore